On this day in vegan history · October 13, 1980
The Heavyweight Champion Who Went Vegan Mid-Career
David Haye unified the cruiserweight titles and won a heavyweight belt eating meat, then one documentary made him quit it for good, mid-comeback, in the sport built on protein myths.
The facts
- Born
- October 13, 1980, in Bermondsey, London
- Titles held
- Unified cruiserweight champion (2007-2008); WBA heavyweight champion (2009-2011)
- Went vegan
- 2014, after watching a documentary on animal farming
- Advocacy
- Launched a vegan protein powder brand and appeared in the 2016 PETA video 'David Haye: Vegan for Animals'
David Deron Haye was born on October 13, 1980, in Bermondsey, London. He went on to unify the cruiserweight world titles and win the WBA heavyweight championship, one of only three boxers ever to do both. In 2014, while recovering from injury and researching diets to speed his healing, he watched a television documentary on how animals are farmed and killed for food. He switched to a plant-based diet on the spot, first checking that he could still get enough protein to keep fighting at world level. He later launched his own vegan protein powder line and appeared in a 2016 PETA video about the switch.
In their words
The day in the words of the people who were there. Every quote is verbatim, and every source links out so you can check it.
-
I watched a TV documentary about how animals are farmed, killed and prepared for us to eat. I saw all those cows and pigs and realised I couldn't be a part of it any more.
David Haye, quoted on his Wikipedia page
Source: Wikipedia -
I did some research to make sure I could still obtain enough protein to fight and, once satisfied that I could, I stopped. I'll never go back.
David Haye, quoted on his Wikipedia page
Source: Wikipedia
Why it still matters
A two-division world champion swearing off meat mid-career, and staying competitive, undercut the standard line that serious strength athletes need animal protein.
Sources
This history is still being written.
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